Dhaka BRT

Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit
Logo of Dhaka BRT
Overview
Native name	ঢাকা বিআরটি
Owner	Road Transport and Highways Division
Locale	Dhaka
Transit type	Bus rapid transit
Number of lines	BRT line 3: Under construction (only northern section), BRT line 7: Proposed
Number of stations	BRT line 3 northern section: 25 (under construction) BRT line 3 southern section: 16 (planned)
Daily ridership	400,000 (estimated)
Headquarters	House 4, Road 21, Sector 4, Uttara, Dhaka
Website	dhakabrt.gov.bd
Operation
Operator(s)	Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit Company Limited
Number of vehicles	137 diesel-run AC buses
Technical
System length	41 km (25 mi)
Average speed	23 km/h

The Dhaka BRT (Bengali: ঢাকা বিআরটি, romanised: Dhaka Bi-Ar-Ti) or Dhaka Line (Bengali: ঢাকা লাইন) is a bus rapid transit system under construction in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The original plan for the network included two lines: BRT Line-3 and BRT Line-7. Currently, only the northern section of BRT Line-3 is under construction, scheduled for completion by June 2024, while the other route is still in the planning phase.

History

Planning

In 2005, the World Bank published a study report, recommending that the government of Bangladesh build a transit system in Dhaka. In the same year, American consultancy firm Louis Berger Group prepared a 20-year strategic transport plan for Dhaka. The World Bank helped to develop this plan, which proposed the construction of three bus rapid transit systems in Dhaka. In 2011, a primary feasibility study was done for BRT by the Asian Development Bank. On 1 December 2012, the ECNEC approved the BRT project under the Greater Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project, implemented by three agencies: the Roads and Highways Department, the Bangladesh Bridge Authority and the Local Government Engineering Department. In 2013, the state-owned Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Company was formed as a special purpose company under this project to plan, execute, operate, and manage a bus-based mass transit system in the capital. In 2020, the company appointed its first managing director, and following a court order, eight years' worth of annual general meetings were held in a single session in 2022.

The Revised Strategic Transport Plan approved in 2016 as the successor to the 2005 transport plan, reduced the number of bus rapid transit lines down to two. The budget of BRT Line 3 was fixed at ৳2040 crore (US$170 million), which was later increased to ৳4268 crore (US$360 million).

Initially, the Dhaka BRT Company made the decision to operate articulated buses along the BRT route; however, this was later revised in favour of electric buses. Subsequently, the authority changed course again and opted to procure 137 diesel-run AC buses instead in January 2023. However, as of May 2024, the bus procurement process has not been finalised due to legal complications stemming from the recent cancellation of the initial tender.

Construction

Construction of a bus rapid transit station in House Building, Uttara

BRT Line 3 was supposed to be completed by 2016, but construction could not begin due to several factors like route redefinition, the absence of a final feasibility study prior to project initiation, frequent alterations in architectural designs, and the incorporation of new establishments into the plan. As a result of these factors, the government found it necessary to extend the construction period, leading to a subsequent increase in the construction budget by 52.20%.

On 1 December 2016, the government appointed Gezhouba Group as the contractor for the construction of the northern section of BRT Line 3, which was expected to complete construction within two and a half years. In 2017, Bangladesh Bridge Authority signed an agreement with Jiangsu Provincial Transportation Engineering Group Co. Ltd for the construction of a 4.5-kilometre (2.8 mi) elevated road (flyover) and 10-lane Tongi Bridge, along with 10 elevated stations, as part of the BRT project.

In 2019, the Road Transport and Highways Division (RHD) created a detail engineering design for the southern section of BRT Line 3 (Airport to Keraniganj). The RHD is also responsible for constructing a 16-kilometre (9.9 mi) road, which includes the construction of seven flyovers.

The project deadline were then revised to 30 June 2020 and June 2022 respectively, but its construction could not be completed. On 6 November 2022, Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader said that the northern section of BRT Line 3 is likely to be commissioned in May or June 2023. On 17 June 2023, Quader informed that the bus rapid transit service would be launched in September or October of the same year. However, the project's deadline was again subsequently extended to June 2024.

The deadline of the project has been extended in five phases. As of March 2024, the construction of the northern section was 90% complete.

Incidents

On 14 March 2021, six workers, including three Chinese nationals, sustained injuries when a girder collapsed on them near Dhaka airport. Then, on 15 July 2022, a construction worker working on the BRT project died after a crane accident at Chandana Chourasta area on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway in Gazipur.

On 15 August 2022, five people were killed when a girder used in the construction of the project fell on a private vehicle at Jasimuddin Square, Uttara. As a result, Mayor Atiqul Islam announced the suspension of BRT construction in the Dhaka North City Corporation area until all types of compliance certificates are received from the contractors. The government's investigative team held the contractors accountable for the accident. As a result, the two contractors were declared ineligible for upcoming construction projects. Construction subsequently resumed in mid-September 2022.

In January 2023, authorities dismantled a BRT ramp in the Dhaka airport area due to the use of low-quality and defective materials by the contractor. The work was restarted by engaging new subcontractors and materials were sourced from different suppliers, as stated by authorities. This incident resulted in disruptions, cost escalations, and time overruns within the project.

On 15 April 2023, three people were injured as a crane used in the construction of the BRT system fell on shops in Tongi.

Operation

On 6 November 2022, a segment of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, comprising the Dhaka-bound two lanes of the flyover from Tongi Fire Service in Gazipur to Uttara House Building, was opened to vehicular traffic.

On 24 March 2024, seven flyovers of the BRT project were opened to traffic with the aim of mitigating traffic congestion along the Dhaka–Gazipur route.

Routes

BRT Line 3

BRT Line 3 is composed of two sections. The northern section extends 20.5 kilometres (12.7 mi) from Shibbari in Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A total of 25 stations are currently under construction within this section, with plans for it to link up with the airport station of MRT Line 1 that goes to Kamalapur Railway Station. This route is expected to lower travel times from Gazipur to Dhaka from 1.5–4 hours down to 35–40 minutes.

The 22-kilometre (14 mi) southern section was planned to be constructed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Jhilmil Residential Area in Keraniganj which will consist of 16 stations. However, in 2020, the plan was dropped due to bad experience with the under-construction route, according to Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader.

BRT Line 3
Gazipur Terminal BARI Aarong Milk BTRC Bus Depot Joydebpur Bhogra (north) Bhogra (south) Maleker Bari Hajir Pukur Board Bazar Open University Borobari Targach Gazipura Hossain Market Tongi College Cherag Ali Market Mill Gate Station Road Tongi Bridge Abdullahpur House Building Azampur Jasimuddin Square Dhaka Airport  1

BRT Line 7

A feasibility study conducted by the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) identified a route from Narayanganj to Gazipur as a viable option for implementation for BRT Line 7. However, progress on the project has been hindered by a lack of interest from relevant authorities and land encroachments throughout the route.

Criticisms

The BRT Line 3 project has faced significant setbacks and criticism. Delays caused by land acquisition hurdles, design modifications, and financial constraints on contractors have led to cost escalations and public inconvenience during construction. Frequent changes, such as shifting from articulated to electric and then diesel buses, have raised concerns about operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and deviating from the project's original purpose. Contractors bidding low have struggled to secure funds, resulting in substandard work and further delays. The project's estimated cost has more than doubled since inception, prompting allegations of financial mismanagement. Inconsistent planning decisions, like altering the number of bus stations and lanes, have contributed to delays and higher costs. The lack of foresight in design elements, including inadequate drainage and the absence of footpaths in industrial areas like Gazipur and design of Tongi Bridge, has drawn criticism. Frequent technical specification and design changes have raised doubts about the project's profitability and efficiency.